Guyana bans Nigerian travellers over Ebola
Guyana has stopped issuing visas to Nigerians in order to prevent Ebola spreading to the South American nation.
The Guyanese foreign affairs minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkette (pictured), said on Thursday that the measure had been in place for the past four weeks.
Three other countries are also affected by the travel ban: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The worst Ebola outbreak on record has killed nearly 4,500 people, mostly in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
Although a traveller from Liberia brought the disease to Lagos, killing himself and seven other persons in the process, Nigeria does not have any known case of Ebola again.
The country is expected to be declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation(WHO) next week.
In addition to the visa denials in Guyana, health officials will screen anyone who travelled to those four African countries in the six weeks prior to their arrival in Guyana.
Guyanese health services are unable to test for Ebola, but around 1,600 health workers are being trained to detect cases, the government added.
Guyana is a Carribbean country and, like Nigeria, is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations .
With a land area of 215,000 square kilometres, Guyana has a population of 735,000, which is 500,000 less than that of Alimosho local government area in Lagos state.
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I think at the end of the day, national interest, just like self interest is the determining factor. Every responsible nation has the obligation to look after its citizens. And if a nation has a reason to take such an action it’ll be foolhardy to do otherwise. How I wish Nigeria could take lives of her citizens equally serious!!!
The action taken by the Guyanese government was obviously done to protect the people of that small and fragile country, but it was also done out of ignorance. Nigeria is just 3 days away from being certified totally Ebola free by the WHO. And now that America has a few cases will Guyana ban Americans too from entry? The answer is obvious. Nigeria should adopt a tit for tat policy at all levels of diplomacy
This is clearly a decision that wasn’t well thought out. Sometimes National interests ought to be properly understood in the context of a global community. Nevertheless, Guyana and Nigeria are members of the commonwealth. I’m sure reason will prevail through diplomatic efforts.
This is, sadly, a decision that was not well thought out. Sometimes, National Interest ought to be properly understood in the context of a global community. Nigeria and Guyana are both members of the Commonwealth. I am sure that reason will ultimately prevail through diplomacy.
why hasn’t nigeria taken the same stand even if on a temporary basis
This decision isn’t fair towards Nigeria as Nigeria has been declared ebola free by the WHO,I feel the same action should also be taken against USA, because they also have ebola cases.
Nigerians has been declared ebola free by WHO….so pls just allow Nigerians to come freely…..There are many aspiring students who wants to study in Guyana….i hope my request will b granted